Electric self-winding clock



Dec. 22, 1931. s, PAVKY 1,837,833

ELECTRIC SELF WINDING CLOCK Filed July 30, .1929 `2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOE ,SZEGIL fz V @MMM . l n l 7%.

DEC. 22, 1931. 5, PAVKY y 1,837,833

ELECTRIC SELF WINDING CLOCK Filed July 30, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVINToJZ Patented Dec. 22, 1931 UNI-TED STATI-:s

STEPHEN PAVKY, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC SELr-wnvnnm cLocx Application filed 111137,30, 1:92'9.` Serial No. 382,102.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in an electric self-windm clock and has for one of its objects to vprovide for v- I maintaining the powerkto operate the time train or mechanism fora considerable period even though the electricy current is discon tinued or interrupted. j Y n Another object of the invention is to simplify the constructionof such clocks so as to make it necessary to use but one motor.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a motor to drive the striking train or mechanism of a clock and through the medium of said striking train to wind the time train. V

In actual practice, -the motor runs the striking train a. suiiicient period of time to wind the time train 'more than said time train actually uses under ordinary circumstances. l

i Ai'further object of the invention is to provide means for controlling the overflow windings. n

A further object of the invention is to provide a weight formaintaini'ng the power necessary to operate the timetrain.

Astill further object/of the invention is to utilize a power maintaining spring in'lieu of the weight.

With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and/com bination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understandhow to' make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail. referring by numerals `to the accompanying drawings :forming apart of this application, in

which f Fig. 1 is a side elevation or edge view of a clock mechanism embodyingr my invention, with the support broken away.

Fig.` 2 is a fra thereof with the near side plate removed and a part of the support shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the clock mechanism illustrating `a modified `form of my invention. f Y l -on which is also iixed a gear gmentary rear elevation Fig. 4 is a side elevation or edge view thereof." Y

`F ig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the mechanism over winding. In carrying out myy invention as'herein embodied, y6 represents the front plate and 7 the rear plate of an ordinary or any desirable clock structure which upon afsupport 8 having pendant for a purpose to belater described; y

Between the plates are mounted theusual striking and time trains,l mechanisms or stops 9 for preventing may be mounted ,Y

gears, yand as illustrated in Figs, 1 and 2,

the minute hand or center shaft 10 has a sprocket wheelll` or equivalent means mounted thereon over which may run a chain 12 or `equivalent motion transmitting means,

said chain also running over a sprocket 13 onv the shaftV 14 which carries the striking gear 15, the latter meshing with the second gear 16 'on theshaft 17 which also carried the intermediate gear 18 meshing with the pinion 19 on a shaft 20, which latter has a gear 21 thereon meshingiwith the pinion 22 on a shaft 23 provided with the gear 24 meshing with the motor gear 25 on the shaft 26 of the motor 2,7. The parts from 15 to 24 inclusive comprise the striking train. l

"The time train in addition to the minute hand or center shaft 10'may include, and as herein illustrated does include, a center gear meshing with a pinion 71 on a shaft 72 n y 7 3 meshing with a pinion 74 IiXed on the shaft 75. The .shaft 75 also carries the escapement wheel 76 with which the escapeinent 77 co-operates, the latter being pivotally mounted upon a shaft 78.

Mounted to run on the chain 12 is a suitable weight device or mechanism 28, Vpreferably comprising av wheel 29 running directlyon the chain to the axle of which is connected a hanger 30 supporting a cross piece 31 for coaction with the pendant stops l9to limit the upward or rinward movement ofI the weight device and said cross piece carries one or moreweights 32, preferably three in number so asto simulate ordinary vweight operated clocks. In orderto further simulate an r Ordinary WeghtOPeated clock, each weight 32 is provided with a wheel 33 which runs on a cable 34, preferably in the form of a chain, having one end attached to the cross piece 31 with the other end projecting through an aperture in the cross piece and attached to the support 8 so that the positions of the several weights will change according to the slack in the chain 12 between the sprockets 11 and 13.

It is to be understood that the motor 27 is of such construction that ordinarily the electric current is constantly supplied thereto so thatwhen the striking mechanism, such as strike the hour or hour and half hour or strike hours and play chimes, is released by the stop lever 35, a face view of which is shown in Fig. 3, which forms a part of any ordinary clock mechanism, the motor 27 will operate and actuate the striking train to sound the desired signal.

During the actuation of the striking train, one strand of the chain 12 will he wound up so as to form some portion of the loop in the chain between the sprockets 11 and 13 and so long as there is any slack which forms the loop in the chain 12, the weight device or mechanism will move the other strand of the said chain 12 over the sprocket wheel 11 so as to transmit motion to the time mechanism or train of which the hour or center shaft 10 is a part, it being understood that the balance of the train is of ordinary or usual const-ruction to provide for operating the hour and minute hands at the proper speeds.

In order to prevent the weights from being drawn up into the clock mechanism and to prevent the formation of too large a loop, the cross piece 31 engages the stops 9, thereby limiting the upward or elevating movement of the weights. Further, in order that the striking mechanism may continue to operate when the weights have been stopped, means for providing the slippage between the weight mechanism and the striking train must be provided. This l accomplish by loosely mounting the sprocket wheel 13 between a collar 36 which is fixed to the shaft 14 and a spring 37, one end of which may contact with the hub of the striking gear 15 or a suitable washer 38 interposed between said hub and the contiguous end of the spring while the other end of said spring contacts with the sprocket wheel 13 or one of a pair of washers 39 interposed between said sprocket wheel and said other end of the spring. If found desirable, and generally this is the case, a washer 40 may bc interposed between the sprocket wheel 13 and the collar 36.

From this. it will be seen. that when the weight mechanism has been elevated to such an extent that the cross piece 31 engages the stops 9 and the striking mechanism is actuated, the latter may operate while the sprocket wheels 13 will stand still and the associated parts will slip past said sprocket wheels, but as soon as the weights have descended sufficiently to disengage the cross piece 31 from the stops 9, the spring 37 will cause the sprocket wheel 13 to revolve with the other parts.

A somewhat similar construction is pro vided between the pinion 22 and the gear 24 in which the said gear 24 is loosely mounted upon said shaft 23 with a spring 49'M1 interposed between said gear 24 and the pinion 22 which latter is fixed on the shaft 23, and therefore when the striking mechanism is abruptly stopped, the gear 24 may turn a short distance with the motor until it gradually comes to a standstill. This acts as a shock absorber for the motor.

In actual practice, when the striking mechanism is released by the stop lever 35, the motor 27 will operate and actuate said striking mechanism to sound the signal and during the actuation of the striking mechanism, one strand of the chain 12 will be wound up by the sprocket wheel 13 so as to form a loop or provide slack between said sprocket wheel 13 and the sprocket wheel 11 and the weight mechanism on said chain will cause the latter to be drawn over the sprocket wheel 11 and thus actuate the time mechanism. Since the operation of the motor and the actuation of the striking train winds up more of the chain tlian the time mechanism uses, it is obvious that even if the motor does not run for sometime, as when the electric current is interrupted, the time mechanism will be actuated until such time as all of the slack in the chain between the sprocket wheels is used up or removed.

ln the modification illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 the clock mechanism is shown mounted between the front and rear plates 6 and 7 respectively and said mechanism includes a striking train and a time train. The time train includes the minute hand or center shaft 41 having a center gear 42 thereon which mesheswith a gear 43 on the shaft 44 to which is connected a spring casing 44n housing a lspring 45, one. end of which is connected to said casing, while the other end is attached to the shaft 44. On said shaft 44 is loosely mounted a gear 46 and in order that said gear may slip or move independently of the shaft 44 under certain conditions, a metal disc 47 is provided and between this and the gear 46 is interposed a liber washer 48 and the gear 4 is forced against the fiber disc by a spring 49, one end of the latter bearing against the spring casing 44 and the other end against the gear 46, but if found desirable, frictional washers 59 may be interposed between the gear 46 and the contiguous end of the spring 49.

The gear 4G meshes with the striking gear 51 mounted on the shaft 52 and said gear also meshes with a pinion 53 mounted on the shaft 54 and on said shaft is a gear 55 meshing with a pinion 56 on the shaft 57. On the latter shaft is a gear 58 which meshes with the pinion 59 on the shaft 60 `and said shaft has a gear 6l thereon which meshes with the pinion 62 of the motor 63.

A spring 40a, the same as that described in connection with the other form of the invention, is interposed between the pinion 59 and the gear 6l so that when the striking mecha nism is brought to a sudden stop, the motorl can revolve for a short time without injury or damage to the striking mechanism.

From the foregoing,it will be obvious that when the striking mechanism is released and the motor actuates said striking mechanism, motion will be transmitted through the striking train to the shaft 44 and thus wind up the spring and as said spring unwinds, it will transmit motion through the spring casing 44L and the gear 43 to the gear 42 of the time train. It is therefore obvious that during the actuation of the striking mechanism, suhicient energy is stored in the spring and maintained for future use as during such times when the electric current may be interrupted.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction as herein shown, as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1. The combination with clock mechanism including a striking train and a time train, an endless chain connected with said trains and moved by the striking train to produce slack, and means to move said chain to take up the slack and thereby operate the time train.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, in combination with means to stop the movement of the chain by the striking train and means to provide slippage between the striking train and said chain when the latter is stopped.

3. The combination with clock mechanism including a striking train and a time train, an endless chain connected with said trains and moved by the striking train to produce slack, and a weight movably mounted on the chain to take up the slack and thereby operate the time train.

4. A clock mechanism including a striking train, an electric motor to actuate said striking train, a time mechanism, an endless chain connected with both the striking train and the time mechanism and wound up by said striking train to lproduce a slack loop between said time mechanism and striking train, and weight means movable on the chain for unwinding the latter and tending to takev up the slack and thereby operate the time q mechanism.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4, in

combination with means to limit the size of slack loop that can be formed, means to pro` vide slippage between the chain and striking train after the limited slack loop has been formed in the chain, and means to permit a limited movement of the motor after the striking train has stopped.

6. The combination with clock mechanism including a striking train and a time train, an endless chain connected with said trains and moved by the striking train always in one direction to roduce a slack loop between the striking and) time trains, the weight of the chain between the outer points of connection of said chain with the striking and time trains tending to pull out the slack loop for operating the time train.

7. The structure set forth in claim 6 in combination with means mounted on the portion of the chain between the outside points of connection of said chain with the striking and time trains for adding weight to the chain to cause it to take up the slack over the time train.l

8. A clock mechanism including a striking i train, an electric motor revoluble in one direction only to actuate said striking train, thereby tending to prevent retrograde movement of the striking train, a time train, an endless chain connected with both the striking train 9'J and the time tram and moved by said striko ing train always in one direction to produce a slack loop between the striking and time trains and said chain having a permanent outer loop of varying size according to the size of the slack loop, and means on the outer loop to take up the slack loop and thereby operate the time train.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

STEPHEN PAVKY. 

